Page 65 of Eternal
“We’re meeting Moretti’s people in three hours,” I said, my tone casual. “Plenty of time to prepare.”
She didn’t even glance at me, her focus locked on the gun in her hand.
“Voron,” I said, this time softer, testing the waters.
Her hands stilled, for a fraction of a second, before she resumed cleaning.
“What’s your real name?” I asked.
Her eyes finally met mine, cold and impenetrable. “Don’t ask.”
My lips tugged into a small smile. “Does it start with an A?”
She tilted her head, the faintest flicker of reaction betraying her. “And why would you think that?”
I pushed off the wall and moved closer, slow enough to gauge her mood. The faint scent of her perfume hit me before I reached for the knife on the bed, I traced the letter etched into the handle with my thumb and smiled looking at her, with no particular reason. “You should be more careful, partner. Makes it easier for people to figure you out.”
Her hand shot out, snatching the knife back with startling speed. She leaned in, her voice a low whisper, and that sweet tone caressed my neck. “And you should be more careful not to touch my weapons without permission, Damir. My patience is nonexistent, and I wouldn’t think twice about stabbing you before you finish your little investigation.”
For a split second, I thought she might actually do it, and I liked it, that threatening attitude, then, she turned back to her gear, leaving me with a quiet laugh and the faintest thrill in my chest.
20
AZRA
“Ultraviolence” by Lana Del Rey
Present
He was wrong.
Damir was clever, I’d give him that. But cleverness wasn’t enough for me to trust him blindly.
I’d been in too many similar situations to sniff out threats before they took shape, and he was all sharp edges wrapped in a beautiful package.
A man like him never moved without purpose, without a hidden goal, never asked a question unless he already knew the answer or planned to twist whatever you gave him into something useful for his stupid investigations.
Like that letter. The stupid knife.
It shouldn’t have annoyed me, but it did, the way his thumb had traced it, like the curve of a single letter, gave him power over me.
I should’ve stabbed him with it.
Too late to regret it now, Azra.
Focus. I need to focus. The mission was all that mattered, not his questions, not the way he moved too close, like he didn’t understand personal space or simply wanted to piss me off, not the way he laughed like he was having fun.
Definitely not that.
The faint sound of his footsteps drew nearer, and I forced myself to stay still as I finished folding my clothes.
“You’re quiet now,” he said, his voice low, almost amused. “Did I scare you? I thought we were team-bonding here.”
“I have nothing to say.”
“Unusual for you. I thought you’d be more… talkative.”
I glanced over my shoulder, meeting his gaze for the briefest second. “If you’re bored, you can always leave the room and maybe bring us some food.”
